What Do I Like?

September 27, 2019

I recently came across this passage:

“If we like luxuries or even necessities more than we like obedience, we will miss the blessings which he would like to give us.”
Spencer W. Kimball, The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball (1982), 212

I really love the simplicity of the message. It's not “what do you think you should do?” It's “what do you like?” And at the same time it's a fairly deep question of faith. Do we trust God enough to obey him, even when it doesn't make sense? Even when it looks like we're out on a limb, where the necessities are in jeopardy?

But the other half is also gentle and clear. Our Father in Heaven likes to give us blessings. He's a Father, a perfect one, so he wants to give us nice stuff, like any father! But since He's perfect, he doesn't spoil us. He gives us blessings when we're obedient and therefore ready to handle those blessings.

So this is my question for me. What do I like? Do I like Netflix more than Gospel Library? Do I like sleep more than prayer? Do I like alone time more than service?